First Time Home Buyers Demand Green in Asheville

First Time Home Buyers:Demand Green in Asheville  

Asheville, NC- May, 2009- The First Time Home Buyer has a good advantage these days. There has always been a place for this special group of buyers, but the $8,000 Tax Creditadds impetus to the mix. As a real estate professional here in Asheville, I have always thought that finding a niche that "calls" to  you is one of the most important aspects of success in this business.

Whether a property is commercial, residential or LAND/ acreage it is special in one way or another, and so are the clients who seek their first home, those buyers who depend on you for objective fiduciary counsel.

And there are points beyond special. Looking at various market niches... the 1st Time Home Buyer, the Over 55...the Second and Vacation...the Hospitality...all have a certain "zest" that's like the mountain air here in Asheville....

But here is another  interesting perspective:

 


That of the 1st time home buyer in terms of their demand for healthy-built (GREEN) homes.
That demand drives the market and is evident in the resources available to First Time Home Buyers and the number of green-built homes in the affordable price range.

Resources:.

1.  Right here in Asheville, 1st Time Home Buyers can turn to the Green Building Council.

2. Ist Time Home Buyers can also turn to Eco Certified® Real Estate Consultants  at our Firm,  seasoned brokers  who have completed a 36-hour course about environmentally-sensitive properties here in Asheville.

3. Researching for First Time Home Buyers, I  checked out green-built homes in the $180,000 to $350,000 range the other day.  In that range (residential) there are 23 WNC HealthyBuilt Homes  on the market this month...

I  talked with a young couple earlier this week. They told me, "janeAnne we just have to have a healthier, safer, more comfortable, sustainable, energy efficient, and environmentally-responsible home....
" Here's one we should look at, " I replied. (see photo) "AND there are at least 22 more available!"

Should we chalk that up to the "wisdom of the  First Time Home Buyer Generation"?...or is GREEN just red hot?

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable  world you can create today and tomorrow!. .........................    .............with OBJECTIVE FIDUCIARY COUNSEL.

ECO STEWARDS' 1st Time Home Buyers LEARNING TOURS. Curious about sustainable GREEN real estate possibilities ?  Register for the Eco Stewards' Learning Tours.  Design your dream. Give us your checklist .

The ECO Certified ® Real Estate Consultants at The ECO Steward Real Estate Firm  specialize in working with eco-developers and LAND for sale in the Greater Asheville, North Carolina area. We are excited about value-added, ECO-friendly properties, and focus on positive futures. Our real estate practice inspires property investments for wealth of the generous kind.

First Time Home Buyers Asheville "GREEN" Real Estate and Relocation: The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
 

TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT
There's a Rainbow of Pure Possibility
in Mountain Homes and Land Legacies in Asheville, North Carolina. 

Rainbow over the Asheville Area Mountains

This professional REALTOR® has an eye for extraordinary value
in Mountain Homes and Land Legacies, green-living communities,
and properties of enduring excellence.
  

" What I want is so simple I almost can't say it: elementary kindness.
Enough to eat, enough to go around.
The possibility that kids might one day grow up to be
neither the destroyers, nor the destroyed."
 
     ~ Barbara Kingsolver

828-776-0773

Sustainable Community~ Asheville's Eco-Jewel~ Hickory Nut Forest

Not long ago I was contacted via Active Rainabout a post I had done -part of an on-going series called Hickory Nut Forest Heirloom Apple Orchard Asheville NC
" Asheville- Picnics and Day Trips" - about Hickory Nut Forest Eco-Community.  I responded with delight for it is apple blossom time at Hickory Nut Forest, and we had taken some amazing photos to share.
(see photo)

"We share an interest in self-sustaining communities," I enthused... ."

and was happy to provide information. Possibly you. have seen posts (see a few of those links below) about Hickory Nut Forest.

I am passionate about the concept of eco-friendly developmentand how this has played out in excellent attention to detail for this eco-community." 

... what stage Hickory Nut Forest is in development... 

In terms of land planning and execution...the community is a good way along in terms of planning and creation of the "foundation" for the community....


 1)  The conservation easement and deed restrictions that protect the integrity of the land are in place-the 25 AC that is adjacent to the 250 AC that is also adjacent to hundreds and hundreds of acres of conservation partners' lands-
2) the site evaluationand planning has been done by Equinox Environmental eco-sensitive landscape architects, tpaved entrance and view from lot at Hickory Nut Forest ashevillehe biological survey is complete and has been respected


3) the road in is in (top quality-see photo) and carefully constructed

4) the sites are designed for beauty and solar gain
5) the trails leading from the sites to the larger acreage are in process and well under way...
6) about half the building sites are sold and
7)the first home to be built is due this year

 

 

.....about a land map....

A survey of Hickory Nut Forest is conservation neighborhood  as well as a map of the entire 275 AC, a  topographical map, and a general map of the area to see where Hickory Nut Forest is located and how far it is from Asheville is available. (see links below)

.... about lots---the siting, the  sizes and costs...

Each lot at  Hickory Nut Forest seems to have its own personality.  Some of the lots overlook the Hickory the colros at Hickory Nut Forest Asheville sustainable communityNut Creek, some are adjacent to trails leading to vast conservation acreage....wells and septic systems are needed, but there has not been a problem with perc tests...

The size of the lots seems( to me) not to be too much of a factor when taking into consideration the larger picture...the heirloom apple orchard, the sustainably managed vegetable gardens on their way...and the other amenities of this life-affirming community.  Lots range in price from $150,000  (but two people could share a lot and build a home and "guest home" and thus defray the cost)  to about $250,000.

Details on Lot
Shows Map and Context
Features and Benefits

 

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable  world you can create today and tomorrow!. .........................    .............with

OBJECTIVE FIDUCIARY COUNSEL from Eco Certified ©Real Estate Consultants. Contact janeAnne@janeAnne.com or  give a call at 828-255-1082 . Design your dream. Give us your checklist .

ECO STEWARDS' LEARNING TOURS.
Curious about sustainable GREEN real estate possibilities ?  Register for the Eco Stewards' Learning Tours.

The ECO Certified ® Real Estate Consultants at The ECO Steward Real Estate Firm  specialize in working with eco-developers and LAND for sale in the Greater Asheville, North Carolina area. We are excited about value-added, ECO-friendly properties, and focus on positive futures. Our real estate practice inspires property investments for wealth of the generous kind.

Sustainable Community~ Asheville's Eco-Jewel~ Hickory Nut Forest. Asheville "GREEN" Real Estate and Relocation: The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
 

TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT
There's a Rainbow of Pure Possibility
in Mountain Homes and Land Legacies in Asheville, North Carolina. 

Rainbow over the Asheville Area Mountains

This professional REALTOR® has an eye for extraordinary value
in Mountain Homes and Land Legacies, green-living communities,
and properties of enduring excellence.
  

" What I want is so simple I almost can't say it: elementary kindness.
Enough to eat, enough to go around.
The possibility that kids might one day grow up to be
neither the destroyers, nor the destroyed."
 
     ~ Barbara Kingsolver

828-776-0773

Real Estate ‘s Green Luminaries- Asheville NC-Style

Jessica and Paul arrived at our offices in a downpour. Still, they were laughing as we greeted them at the door. It's been raining for a week here in Asheville, but they didn't seem to mind at all. Coming from the Arizona desert, they were enjoying every drop, they told us. The were seeking information on green building in Asheville. They had come to the right place!

As consulting REALTORS® my team and I have become eco-friendly resources for our clients. We offer objective fiduciary counsel . We think of ourselves as one small star in a big constellation of green experts.  Over the years we are fortunate to have met and to know many luminaries in Asheville's green-design and development galaxy.  

green luminaries in ashevilleWe think it is a real plus for our clients to be able to access valuable information those "stars" offerto light on their  projects-whether that be up-fitting a home to more energy efficient standard, building a new green home, or (my personal specialty) conservation real estate .

The giant jigsaw puzzle . Jessica and Paul  are investors in conservation real estate.

Conservation real estate involves large tracts of land and the sustainable practices ..

 Possibly, what we have there is a giant jigsaw puzzle. So for Jessica and Paul we recommended capturing the pieces of that puzzle-laying them all out on the table so that we get a clear picture-maybe looking at different perspectives in terms of  how this project might come together.  

We talked it over with Jessica and Paul. ..."Let's do a bit of due diligence before the fact, " we suggested. Thoughtful clients usually love the idea of objective (it's fee-based so they know it is objective) fiduciary advice. It makes sense to them to enter the project in stages and choose from a list of possibilities.

Over the years we have found that, with the expert advise of eco-savvy consultants in hand, wise choices seem easier to find.  Our team, the sustainable design and planning professionals, eco-developers, architects- and our happy clients ALL are smiling.

 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable  world you can create today and tomorrow!. .........................    .............with

OBJECTIVE FIDUCIARY COUNSEL from Eco Certified ©Real Estate Consultants. Contact janeAnne@janeAnne.com or  give a call at 828-255-1082 . Design your dream. Give us your checklist .

ECO STEWARDS' LEARNING TOURS.
Curious about sustainable GREEN real estate possibilities ?  Register for the Eco Stewards' Learning Tours.

The ECO Certified ® Real Estate Consultants at The ECO Steward Real Estate Firm  specialize in working with eco-developers and LAND for sale in the Greater Asheville, North Carolina area. We are excited about value-added, ECO-friendly properties, and focus on positive futures. Our real estate practice inspires property investments for wealth of the generous kind.

Real Estate ‘s Green Luminaries-  Asheville NC-Style. Asheville "GREEN" Real Estate and Relocation: The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
 

TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT
There's a Rainbow of Pure Possibility
in Mountain Homes and Land Legacies in Asheville, North Carolina. 

Rainbow over the Asheville Area Mountains

This professional REALTOR® has an eye for extraordinary value
in Mountain Homes and Land Legacies, green-living communities,
and properties of enduring excellence.
  

" What I want is so simple I almost can't say it: elementary kindness.
Enough to eat, enough to go around.
The possibility that kids might one day grow up to be
neither the destroyers, nor the destroyed."
 
     ~ Barbara Kingsolver

828-776-0773

GREEN ASHEVILLE PROPERTY TOURS: Explore Sustainable Innovation in Real Estate

N o Pressure, Just Exploring.  green asheville learning tour on LANDThe Eco Steward Real Estate Firm and Design Team is excited about taking folks out exploring.

ECO-FRIENDLY TOURS that explore GREEN ASHEVILLE  and sustainable innovation opportunities in the Greater Asheville area are popular as the season's unfold and more and more people become curious about the trend toward GREEN building and thoughtful land planning. (see photo)

"We love the idea of showing current residents and people who may be interested in relocating here  Asheville's newest GREEN offerings, " one of the tour guides told me.

From Green-Built homes to Eco-Communities and Conservation Neighborhoods, from Equestrian Estates and Horse Farms with Trails that lead off into conservation lands, (such as the one in the photo here) from homes for 1st time homebuyers to Historic Properties,

 it seems the guides, all of whom are up-to-speed on mountain green news, delight in delivering their Green learning tours.  " It is a green adventure  for a one or two, or an entire family or a group, "they tell me.

And it is a way, without pressure, quietly to infuse a sense of what's happening in the "green property scene"in the Greater Asheville Area, and put it in the contextof what is meaningful for those on the Green Learning Tour. How that unfolds for each person on the Tour.. . is a mystery.

TOUR GUIDES 

Tour Guides are professionals:  Eco-Design and Development Experts, Green Builders, Landscape Architects, Sustainable Innovation Experts and Eco Certified® Real Estate Consultants - all of whom are uniquely qualified to interpret information and data, provide commentary and answer questions. 

RATES

Eco-Stewards Green Learning Tours vary. Rates also vary. Depending on the Green Learning Tour they range from $20.Hour  and up. 

 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 ___~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable  world you can create today and tomorrow!. .........................    .............with

OBJECTIVE FIDUCIARY COUNSEL from Eco Certified ©Real Estate Consultants. Contact janeAnne@janeAnne.com or  give a call at 828-255-1082 . Design your dream. Give us your checklist .

ECO STEWARDS' LEARNING TOURS.
Curious about sustainable GREEN real estate possibilities ?  Register for the Eco Stewards' Learning Tours.

GREEN ASHEVILLE PROPERTY TOURS. Asheville "GREEN" Real Estate and Relocation: The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved
________________________________________________________________________________________________

TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT
There's a Rainbow of Pure Possibility
in Mountain Homes and Land Legacies in Asheville, North Carolina. 

Rainbow over the Asheville Area Mountains

This professional REALTOR® has an eye for extraordinary value
in Mountain Homes and Land Legacies, green-living communities,
and properties of enduring excellence.
  

" What I want is so simple I almost can't say it: elementary kindness.
Enough to eat, enough to go around.
The possibility that kids might one day grow up to be
neither the destroyers, nor the destroyed."
 
     ~ Barbara Kingsolver

828-776-0773

Asheville GREEN Landscape Architect- TUCH

David Tuch, VP at Equinox Environmental has a wealth of knowledge and experience. A presenter at the David Tuch, GREEN LAND TOUR  Asheville 20092009 GREEN HOMES (and Land)  Tour, Tuch is involved in an array of eco-community developments in the Greater Asheville, NC area.

During the presentation time, Tuch, an expert consultant for the Mountain Landscapes Initiative, talked about  how  we can grow local economies in North Carolina's mountain region without threatening the natural assets that attract new people and new investment. He also looked at  how to adjust to change in the mountains without sacrificing community character and sense of place.  

Following that thought he asked . . .  "WHERE is the perfect place to construct the green-built home of your dreams?"

If I were to choose, and it would be hard because Asheville is full of possibility, I  possibly would choose a building site in one of Asheville, North Carolina's  eco-communities.

 "GREEN" is the word here in Western North Carolina's mountains.More and more here in Asheville we are noticing a trend toward sustainable environments, and more and  more. Asheville is becoming the "hub' of green and sustainable development.  Touring various eco-communities in the Asheville, NC areato explore sustainable innovation inour area is what this is all about.    

Eco-Stewards' GREEN LEARNING  TOURS takes you to one of Tuch's masterpieces of planning,  Drovers Road Preserve. (This might just be one of my favorite places. I've spent many happy hours there. Just inside the entrance to this eco-community you can discover a bit of authentic Appalachian history.You can actually see the roadbed that once connected drovers to and from the markets of Asheville's city center. The trail is marked. The mood is set.

 _________________________________________________________________________________________________

__~o______________
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable  world you can create today and tomorrow!. .........................    .............with

OBJECTIVE FIDUCIARY COUNSEL from Eco Certified ©Real Estate Consultants. Contact janeAnne@janeAnne.com or  give a call at 828-255-1082 . Design your dream. Give us your checklist .

ECO STEWARDS' LEARNING TOURS.
Curious about sustainable GREEN real estate possibilities ?  Register for the Eco Stewards' Learning Tours.

The ECO Certified ® Real Estate Consultants at The ECO Steward Real Estate Firm  specialize in working with eco-developers and LAND for sale in the Greater Asheville, North Carolina area. We are excited about value-added, ECO-friendly properties, and focus on positive futures. Our real estate practice inspires property investments for wealth of the generous kind.

Asheville "GREEN" Real Estate and Relocation: The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT
There's a Rainbow of Pure Possibility
in Mountain Homes and Land Legacies in Asheville, North Carolina. 

Rainbow over the Asheville Area Mountains

This professional REALTOR® has an eye for extraordinary value
in Mountain Homes and Land Legacies, green-living communities,
and properties of enduring excellence.
  

" What I want is so simple I almost can't say it: elementary kindness.
Enough to eat, enough to go around.
The possibility that kids might one day grow up to be
neither the destroyers, nor the destroyed."
 
     ~ Barbara Kingsolver

828-776-0773

GREEN Asheville Landscape Architect BRANNON

David Brannon talked about thoughtful land planning at the annual Green Homes Tour -April, 2009. He explained that a general awareness of the need to plan for the future - or at least the acknowledgment of the planning process - seems to be on many people's minds these days.  But still, at the local level,  a very focused need for of planning is apparent. And though an awareness of planning is fairly pervasive, opinionson just how to go about charting the future for the mountain region definitely vary.

Rethinking traditional development

David Brannon, Asheville Landscape Architect



Brannon. a participating consultant for the
Mountain Landscapes Initiative, explained that models of future housing developments offer multiple benefits of shifting from traditional, multi-acre lots to smaller, cluster-type developments. He pointed out that open space could be preserved, views could be shared and communities could be less reliant on fuel for transportation.

Brannon participates as an expert guide on Eco-Steward's GREEN LEARNING TOURS.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

__~o____________
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable  world you can create today and tomorrow!. .........................    .............with

OBJECTIVE FIDUCIARY COUNSEL from Eco Certified ©Real Estate Consultants. Contact janeAnne@janeAnne.com or  give a call at 828-255-1082 . Design your dream. Give us your checklist .

ECO STEWARDS' LEARNING TOURS.
Curious about sustainable GREEN real estate possibilities ?  Register for the Eco Stewards' Learning Tours.

The ECO Certified ® Real Estate Consultants at The ECO Steward Real Estate Firm  specialize in working with eco-developers and LAND for sale in the Greater Asheville, North Carolina area. We are excited about value-added, ECO-friendly properties, and focus on positive futures. Our real estate practice inspires property investments for wealth of the generous kind.

GREEN Asheville Landscape Architect BRANNON. Asheville "GREEN" Real Estate and Relocation: The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved
________________________________________________________________________________________________

TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT
There's a Rainbow of Pure Possibility
in Mountain Homes and Land Legacies in Asheville, North Carolina. 

Rainbow over the Asheville Area Mountains

This professional REALTOR® has an eye for extraordinary value
in Mountain Homes and Land Legacies, green-living communities,
and properties of enduring excellence.
  

" What I want is so simple I almost can't say it: elementary kindness.
Enough to eat, enough to go around.
The possibility that kids might one day grow up to be
neither the destroyers, nor the destroyed."
 
     ~ Barbara Kingsolver

828-776-0773

Asheville's GREEN Home/LAND Tour of 2009

The 2009 Buncombe Green Home Tour was a lively happening on the last Sunday of April.  The tour , whichasheville green home tour starting point is  self-guided included about 50 Healthy-Built homes. Interested "tourists" picked up brochures at Board Office or simply downloaded the Green Home Tour's brochure from www.green-hometour.com. (You may want to take a peek at that!!)

FEATURED on the Green Home Tour -Asheville's  existing green homes for sale and pre-construction green developments.  

ALSO those attending could opt to learn about eco-friendly LAND USE.   

David Brannon,  Landscape Architect, SiteRhythms  and David Tuch Landscape Architect, Equinox Environmental  gave stellar presentatations on a variety of topics from sustainable land planning to environmental resource assessment during the tour.  Those topics included:

•. LAND Planning & Design Land Suitability Analysis •  Site and Eco-Friendly Building Design  •  Site Resource Assessment •  Site Development and Our Steep Slopes  •  Green  Buildings & Communities  •     Mountain  Ecosystems You Must Consider  • Tree Protection and  landslide Protection... • Conservation Easements & Private Land Trusts   Purchase of Development Rights  Farmland Preservation and more

                    

group explores GREEN HOME

                                              

  We are excited about the turnout for this tour and the obvious interest in green land planning, eco-wise development and green-built homes.

(photo shows a green home being visited.)

We hope to see you in 2010..or BEFORE!

at one of Eco-Steward's GREEN LEARNING TOURS

 

 

 ______________________________________________________________________________________________

__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable  world you can create today and tomorrow!. .........................    .............with

OBJECTIVE FIDUCIARY COUNSEL from Eco Certified ©Real Estate Consultants. Contact janeAnne@janeAnne.com or  give a call at 828-255-1082 . Design your dream. Give us your checklist .

ECO STEWARDS' LEARNING TOURS.
Curious about sustainable GREEN real estate possibilities ?  Register for the Eco Stewards' Learning Tours.

The ECO Certified ® Real Estate Consultants at The ECO Steward Real Estate Firm  specialize in working with eco-developers and LAND for sale in the Greater Asheville, North Carolina area. We are excited about value-added, ECO-friendly properties, and focus on positive futures. Our real estate practice inspires property investments for wealth of the generous kind.

Asheville's GREEN Home/LAND Tour of 2009A. sheville "GREEN" Real Estate and Relocation: The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
 

TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT
There's a Rainbow of Pure Possibility
in Mountain Homes and Land Legacies in Asheville, North Carolina. 

Rainbow over the Asheville Area Mountains

This professional REALTOR® has an eye for extraordinary value
in Mountain Homes and Land Legacies, green-living communities,
and properties of enduring excellence.
  

" What I want is so simple I almost can't say it: elementary kindness.
Enough to eat, enough to go around.
The possibility that kids might one day grow up to be
neither the destroyers, nor the destroyed."
 
     ~ Barbara Kingsolver

828-776-0773

EARTH WEEK $ Savings Tips and a Quick Curtsy to You

 Things aren't the same as they were back in the 1950s, when hula hoops,   poodle skirts, 45s, and cruising Woodward Avenue were popular. Things were different then.... but in the year 2009 and beyond, when emissions of greenhouse gases from fossil fuel combustion and the resulting warming of the planet   have serious  implications for all of us, it is  comforting to know that

we are on the brink of an energy solution right now, today. ..and so many of us are helping out having taken a few simple steps to make our homes more comfortable-while saving money. And money isn't all we can save....Earth-friendly solutions ... most of us have already put to good use...

(my friend in poodle skirt offers a quick curtsy to you)

ENERGY POLL: 

I am taking a poll...(just below)
Please comment and let us know
IF YOU HAVE done one or all of the following...

 

HAVE YOU....



 Taken the Do-It-Yourself  Home-Energy Audit . . .?

Most homes can save 25% to 50% or more energy. A home energy audit points to savings by looking at general condition of heating and air conditioning systems,  insulation, the degree of outside air infiltration, the operation and condition of lighting, and reviewing the efficiency of water heating systems and appliances. You may choose to ask  professional auditors to come on over to do the audit. They might bring some handy instruments with them like blower doors  ...to measure the extent of leaks in the building envelope... and/or infrared cameras   ...to reveal hard-to-detect areas of air infiltration and missing insulation. But sometimes it takes a while before the auditor can get to your home, So in the meantime, you can start right away with a do-it-yourself home energy audit found right here: .

Organized Your Personal ECO-Friendly  Plan  . . . ?

Use this   instant access to free tools and resources. You can start saving on monthly electricity bill right away.  The average family can save $600+ a year on electricity by taking a few simple steps. In my home town of Asheville, North Carolina, the Average Home energy billis $1594 while the bill for an energy-efficient home is $1003 with a potential Savings of $591.   What are the figures in your area?

(FUN!) Discovered and Begun to Remedy Leaks.. .?  ...Use a spray mist bottle for this one.

Get the gang together for the indoor mist test. Spray your arms and hands. They will become the  fast and ready tools to tell you where air leaks may be found in your living spaces.  Hint: look around electrical outlets ,switch plates, window frames, baseboards, weather stripping around doors ,fireplace dampers, attic hatches, wall- or window-mounted air conditioners, dog doors , pipes and wires, electrical outlets, foundation seals, and mail slots.

(More FUN!) Found More Leaks. . .?

Teamwork pays off on this one, too. You may want to wait for a nice sunny day then venture outside to inspect all the places where two different building materials meet...like the  exterior corners, the places where siding and chimneys meet and the places where the foundation and the bottom of exterior brick or siding meet. You don't have to be a professional to notice where you need to  caulk holes or penetrations for faucets, pipes, electric outlets, and wiring. Look for cracks and holes in the mortar, foundation, and siding, and seal them up neatly.

Changed Your Light Bulbs.. .? Energy for lighting accounts for about 10% of your electric bill.

So it's always a good idea to check out the wattage on your light bulbs in your house. 100-watt bulbs use more energy than 75 watt bulbs do and you may not need all that wattage. I like the idea of replacing incandescent light bulbs with efficient  compact fluorescent lamps for areas where lights are on for hours at a time.

By now you know that the new fluorescent bulbs don't moan and flicker like the old ones did. ...Annual Savings: $60 (for upgrading your five most frequently used lights) 662 pounds of coal. Imagine what would happen if  you  upgraded your entire home!

I am into LED lighting , but you may not know about this yet... =)

FIND OUT: Start with your five most frequently used lights.

Resources
Find the best ways to save energy in YOUR home with this calculator!

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
http://yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsf
/content/ClimateScienceFAQ.html

The Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center
http://cdiac.esd.ornl.gov/pns/faq.html

The United Nations Environment Programme/World Meteorological Organization:
http://www.gcrio.org/ipcc/qa/cover.html

 

Have you taken any or all of the above steps?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable  world you can create today and tomorrow!. .........................    .............with

OBJECTIVE FIDUCIARY COUNSEL from Eco Certified ©Real Estate Consultants. Contact janeAnne@janeAnne.com or  give a call at 828-255-1082 . Design your dream. Give us your checklist .

ECO STEWARDS' LEARNING TOURS.
Curious about sustainable GREEN real estate possibilities ?  Register for the Eco Stewards' Learning Tours.

The ECO Certified ® Real Estate Consultants at The ECO Steward Real Estate Firm  specialize in working with eco-developers and LAND for sale in the Greater Asheville, North Carolina area. We are excited about value-added, ECO-friendly properties, and focus on positive futures. Our real estate practice inspires property investments for wealth of the generous kind.

Asheville "GREEN" Real Estate and Relocation: The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved

___________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT
There's a Rainbow of Pure Possibility
in Mountain Homes and Land Legacies in Asheville, North Carolina. 

Rainbow over the Asheville Area Mountains

This professional REALTOR® has an eye for extraordinary value
in Mountain Homes and Land Legacies, green-living communities,
and properties of enduring excellence.
  

" What I want is so simple I almost can't say it: elementary kindness.
Enough to eat, enough to go around.
The possibility that kids might one day grow up to be
neither the destroyers, nor the destroyed."
 
     ~ Barbara Kingsolver

828-776-0773

Asheville Events: GREEN HOMES (& Info on Great Land) TOUR April 2009

Don't miss this year's Green Home Tour!   There are 37 unique green properties on the tour, ranging in price from $121,000 to over $2 million.  

The 2009 Buncombe Green Home Tour will take place between 1-5 PM on April 26th, 2009.  The tour is self-guided and a list of the homes on the tour and directions to the homes is on the event brochure.  The Green Home Tour will be hosted at the Asheville Board of REALTORS® new office building, located at 37 Montford Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801. 

The LAND and eco development team from Eco Steward Realty Brokers will be in  lobby ready to greet you and accompany you on the tour. Even though we specialize in exceptional acreage and amazing lots, we realize that some of you may choose to build GREEN ...so we are sponsoring a short presentation by  David Brannon Landscape Architect, SiteRhythms  .

 David  (see photo)will be presenting at the Asheville Board Building on a variety of topics from sustainable land planning to environmental resource assessment ...

 

David has been instrumental in the landscape design of a number of eco-communities in the Greater Asheville area, and was part of the charrettes team for Mountain Landscapes Initiative.

To attend the tour,pick up a brochure at the Asheville Board of REALTORS® either on the week of April 20th or during the event.  You can also download the Green Home Tour's brochure from www.green-hometour.com.

WHAT: 2009 Buncombe Green Home
WHERE: Tour the Asheville Board of REALTORS® new headquarters at 37 Montford Avenue - then proceed onto any or all of the homes.  All homes on the tour are located in Buncombe County.

TIME: 1:00 PM 

The 2009 Buncombe Green Home Tourfeatures existing green homes for sale and pre-construction green developments.  Information will be available at the Asheville Board of Realtors on the day of the event for the pre-construction green developments that people cannot tour. 

TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT
There's a Rainbow of Pure Possibility
in Mountain Homes and Land Legacies in Asheville, North Carolina. 

Rainbow over the Asheville Area Mountains

This professional REALTOR® has an eye for extraordinary value
in Mountain Homes and Land Legacies, green-living communities,
and properties of enduring excellence.
  

" What I want is so simple I almost can't say it: elementary kindness.
Enough to eat, enough to go around.
The possibility that kids might one day grow up to be
neither the destroyers, nor the destroyed."
 
     ~ Barbara Kingsolver

828-776-0773

Forbes.com "Asheville 6th Best..."


Asheville is in the News! Forbes.com rates "Asheville

6thBest metro area in the nation...Full Story HERE 

Forbes.com rates Asheville 6th Best metro area in the nation for business and careers.


 "One business sector poised for major growth locally is the green energy field. Alternative energy companies are about to get a major chunk of stimulus money.... President Obama announced an extra $800,000 dollars for the City of Asheville to hire people for energy projects."

Meanwhile, the 1st Quarter of 2009 underscores that report as
Asheville's  GREEN real estate market continues Strong

NC HeatlhyBuilt© Homes
Sold in 1stQuarter  2007, 2008, 2009
: : MLS Three-Year Real Estate Market Statistics

YEAR        SOLD (Q1)                PRICE RANGE
2007         3                       $220 to $320K.
2008         1                       $ 201,000 K

2009         6                       $260 to $980,000K

 

Energy Star Homes  

Sold in 1stQuarter  2007, 2008, 2009
: : MLS Three-Year Real Estate Market Statistics

YEAR        SOLD (Q1)                PRICE RANGE
2007         4                       $150 to $379K.
2008         1                       $ 421,000

2009         9                       $209 to $895K

 

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__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable  world you can create today and tomorrow!. .........................    .............with

OBJECTIVE FIDUCIARY COUNSEL from Eco Certified ©Real Estate Consultants. Contact janeAnne@janeAnne.com or  give a call at 828-255-1082 . Design your dream. Give us your checklist .

ECO STEWARDS' LEARNING TOURS.
Curious about sustainable GREEN real estate possibilities ?  Register for the Eco Stewards' Learning Tours.

The ECO Certified ® Real Estate Consultants at The ECO Steward Real Estate Firm  specialize in working with eco-developers and LAND for sale in the Greater Asheville, North Carolina area. We are excited about value-added, ECO-friendly properties, and focus on positive futures. Our real estate practice inspires property investments for wealth of the generous kind.

Forbes.com Asheville 6th Best .Asheville "GREEN" Real Estate and Relocation: The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT
There's a Rainbow of Pure Possibility
in Mountain Homes and Land Legacies in Asheville, North Carolina. 

Rainbow over the Asheville Area Mountains

This professional REALTOR® has an eye for extraordinary value
in Mountain Homes and Land Legacies, green-living communities,
and properties of enduring excellence.
  

" What I want is so simple I almost can't say it: elementary kindness.
Enough to eat, enough to go around.
The possibility that kids might one day grow up to be
neither the destroyers, nor the destroyed."
 
     ~ Barbara Kingsolver

828-776-0773